Abt-Solutely Delicious: Instant Pot Pizza Dip

August is a month filled with transitions. Kids start to go back to school, the weather gets cooler, and football season starts! As soon as those pre-season games start, we start thinking about trading in our swimsuits for jerseys and summer fruit salads for hearty, mouth-watering appetizers. Because let’s not forget that one of the best parts about football season is the FOOD. There is nothing better than hanging out with friends and bringing a dish to enjoy while watching your favorite team.

To kick off the season, we’re making this Instant Pot Pizza Dip. This savory dip has the pizza flavor everyone loves, with the versatility of a dip. You can dip it, spread it, or even sandwich it with a couple pieces of bread. Bring this pizza dip to your next football get-together, but make sure you also bring the recipe, because we know people with be asking for it.

Mix together: the softened cream cheese, ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes. Chop up 1 1/2 cup of pepperoni and add to cheese mixture. Once combined, spread the mixture into the bottom of a 1-quart baking dish. Before making your recipe, make sure your baking dish fits in your Instant Pot. We used a 6 cup Pyrex container in an 8 Qt. Instant Pot.

Spread the pizza sauce on top of the cheese mixture, then sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella cheese on top of that. Place more pepperoni on top of the mozzarella and then sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of the pepperoni.

To lower your baking dish into your Instant Pot, create a large sling out of aluminum foil and use it to insert the dish. This makes it easier to place your baking dish if it’s a snug fit into your Instant Pot, and it makes it easier to remove the hot dish once cooking is complete.

After your dish has cooked in the Instant Pot for 15 minutes, place it in the oven for about 5 minutes on broil. This will get all the cheese and pepperoni nicely browned on top. Serve with a sliced and toasted baguette, and enjoy!

Chop about 1 -1/2 cups of pepperoni and add it into the cream cheese mixture.

3

Pour mixture into a 1-quart baking dish that will fit in the Instant Pot. Spread mixture evenly and add pizza sauce on top, spreading to cover the top. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella, top with pepperoni and parmesan. Cover baking dish tightly with foil.

4

Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot, then place the trivet in the bottom. Fold a large piece of foil into thirds and make a sling to lower your baking dish into the Instant Pot. Lower the baking dish on the trivet, fold the ends of your sling over the top of the dish.

5

Lock the lid and set to "Pressure Cook" on "High" for 15 minutes. Once the Instant Pot is pressurized the float valve will go up. The display will count down from 15 to 0, and once it's done cooking it will automatically go into "Keep Warm" mode and display "L0:00"

6

Do a "Quick Release" of the steam by placing a folded towel over the steam release handle and move it to the "Venting" position. Remove the towel after turning the knob. When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.

7

Press "Cancel" when cooking is completed, and open your Instant Pot. Using the folded foil strips and potholders, carefully remove the baking dish.

8

Pre-heat your oven to broil on high and remove foil from baking dish, then broil the dip until the pepperoni is crisp and the cheese is golden.

Directions

Chop about 1 -1/2 cups of pepperoni and add it into the cream cheese mixture.

3

Pour mixture into a 1-quart baking dish that will fit in the Instant Pot. Spread mixture evenly and add pizza sauce on top, spreading to cover the top. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of mozzarella, top with pepperoni and parmesan. Cover baking dish tightly with foil.

4

Pour 1 cup of water into the bottom of the Instant Pot, then place the trivet in the bottom. Fold a large piece of foil into thirds and make a sling to lower your baking dish into the Instant Pot. Lower the baking dish on the trivet, fold the ends of your sling over the top of the dish.

5

Lock the lid and set to "Pressure Cook" on "High" for 15 minutes. Once the Instant Pot is pressurized the float valve will go up. The display will count down from 15 to 0, and once it's done cooking it will automatically go into "Keep Warm" mode and display "L0:00"

6

Do a "Quick Release" of the steam by placing a folded towel over the steam release handle and move it to the "Venting" position. Remove the towel after turning the knob. When your Instant Pot is depressurized, the float valve will be in the down position.

7

Press "Cancel" when cooking is completed, and open your Instant Pot. Using the folded foil strips and potholders, carefully remove the baking dish.

8

Pre-heat your oven to broil on high and remove foil from baking dish, then broil the dip until the pepperoni is crisp and the cheese is golden.